The British and Irish Lions have rejected a proposal from Rugby Australia to use golden point in next monthโs Test series against the Wallabies, leaving open the possibility of the teams sharing the spoils in a tied series.
As reported by this masthead, Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh pitched the idea of golden point to their Lions at recent meetings, in an attempt to ensure the three-Test series would have a winner.
In 2017, the Lions and the All Blacks shared the series trophy 1-1 after a draw in the third Test, with no provisions to play any extra time.
That is set to be the case again in the 2025 series against the Lions, after the Lions board decided to not back RA proposal.
The playing conditions are set to follow those of a normal Test match series, with no extra time provisions, and not mirror the finals of Rugby World Cup, where two extra-time periods totalling 20 minutes – and a third ten minutes of golden point – are played to find a winner.
RAโs proposal was based on the successful golden point Super Rugby Pacific, known as โSuper pointโ, which was introduced this year for regular season matches. A ten-minute period of golden point was played and if no winner emerged, the game was a draw.
Darby Lancaster takes to the air to score the golden point try against the ForceCredit: Getty Images
The Western Force played in two matches with โSuper pointโ; the first against the Hurricanes stayed a 17-all draw and the second saw a spectacular try in the 90th minute by the Waratahs to snatch the win.
โWeโve had some really constructive conversations,โ Waugh said last month.
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